The Approach to Finding Locations for Wind Farms Using GIS and MCDA: Case Study Based on Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland

Abstract

This article presents an approach to locating wind farms based on open-source data, GIS software (QGiS v.3.32 Lima), and multicriteria decision-making methods such as AHP, TOPSIS and Borda. The article aims to check the availability of the most suitable sites for wind farms in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland. After the site-selection process, 704 plots were selected after three stages of exclusion (technical–natural, social, and economic). These plots cover a total area of 32.50 km2, about 0.16% of the region’s area. The results show that Podlaskie Voivodeship has the most considerable clustering of suitable sites for wind farm construction in three districts, with a total area of 21.53 km2. The first district is in the southwestern part of the region, with an area of 14.84 km2; the second district is in the southeastern part of the region, with an area of 5.59 km2; and the third district is in the northern part of the region, with an area of 1.1 km2. A selected area of 32.50 km2 for wind farms and single turbines could increase the power capacity by 62% with 131.5 MW. The GIS and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodology is repeatable and can be used for further research in other voivodeships in Poland and other countries. International and Polish investors and renewable energy sources (RESs) developers can use the research results to select new locations for investments that fit their strategy in the local market.